Portable attendance recorder

ABSTRACT

A portable self-powered attendance recorder comprises a timing clock, means connected to the timing clock for recording the time from the clock on a time card, a motor for driving the timing clock, and a self-powered direct current voltage source electrically connected to the motor to drive the same. The use of a self-powered direct current source enables the recorder to be operational without the use of an external power source so that it may be transported to and operated at substantially any location. In the preferred embodiment the motor is an alternating current synchronous motor and an inverter unit is connected between the direct current voltage source and the motor to convert the output of the voltage source to an alternating voltage to drive the motor. The direct current voltage source may comprise a plurality of batteries mounted on a frame which is itself positioned between support plates of the type found on a standard attendance recorder so that the recorder need not be enlarged to provide space for the batteries.

United States Patent Barkas [54] PORTABLE ATTENDANCE RECORDER [72] Inventor: Emanuel Barkas, l-lamden, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Mite Corporation, New Haven,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 850,876

[52] US. Cl. ..346/91, 346/145, 58/23 B [51] Int. Cl. ..G07c 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..346/82-92, 145, 346/146, 20; 58/24, 25, 26.5, 23 BA [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,326 11/1934 l-larter ..58/24 2,925,311 2/1960 Dull ....346/82 2,773,733 12/1956 Lorenz ..346/84 2,987,929 6/1961 Johas ..346/141 X 3,478,202 11/1969 Snodgrass ..346/33 X 3,512,159 5/1970 Clark et al. ..346/86 Aug. 8, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A portable self-powered attendance recorder comprises a timing clock, means connected to the timing clock for recording the time from the clock on a time card, a motor for driving the timing clock, and a selfpowered direct current voltage source electrically connected to the motor to drive the same. The use of a self-powered direct current source enables the recorder to be operational without the use of an external power source so that it may be transported to and operated at substantially any location. In the preferred embodiment the motor is an alternating current synchronous motor and an inverter unit is connected between the direct current voltage source and the motor to convert the output of the voltage source to an alternating voltage to drive the motor. The direct current voltage source may comprise a plurality of batteries mounted on a frame which is itself positioned between support plates of the type found on a standard attendance recorder so that the recorder need not be enlarged to provide space for the batteries.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 1912 3.683.409

SHEET 1 OF 2 [MON TUES grnuasm SAT 7,

ATTORNEYS 1 PORTABLE A'ITENDAN CE RECORDER This invention relates to attendance recorders, and more specifically to an attendance recorder which is self-powered by a direct current voltage source.

Many industries use an attendance recorder for the purpose of monitoring the attendance of the employees. It is common in such industries to provide each employee with a weekly time card which is inserted into the attendance recorder at appropriate times throughout the working day. The card provides a record of the start and completion of the employees workday, and may also include information regarding interim downtime periods.

There are a number of industrial situations in which employees do not maintain a record of their working time by means of an attendance recorder primarily because their work requires that they be in transit during the working day. Still other workers do not report to a home base or factory but spend their time in the field for extended periods and have no permanent record of their working time. For example, truck drivers who travel long distances or field workers who are accustomed to working on farms or the like, have no means at hand to permanently record the start and completion of the working day. In these cases, the employer generally relies upon the personal records of such employees.

Furthermore, many service companies would prefer to have an accurate indication of the arrival time and departure time of servicemen on call so that a customer may be given a stamped time receipt at the completion of the call. An accurate portable recorder could be placed on the service truck and used for this purpose.

It is the primary object of this invention therefore to provide a portable self-powered attendance recorder which includes a self-powered direct current voltage source, and requires no external source of voltage for operation.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a self-powered attendance recorder which is capable of providing an accurate indication of the time of day without interruption for prolonged periods of time.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by a portable attendance recorder for recording the time of day on a time card which is inserted into the recorder, the recorder comprising a timing clock, means operatively connected to the timing clock efiective for recording the time from the clock on the card when the card is so inserted, motor means for driving the timing clock and a self-powered direct current voltage source electrically connected to the motor means to drive the motor. In the preferred embodiment the motor comprises an alternating current synchronous motor. An inverter unit effective to convert the direct current voltage from the voltage source to an alternating current voltage is included in the recorder and is electrically connected between the direct current voltage source and the synchronous motor. The use of an alternating current synchronous motor further ensures the accuracy of the recorder over an extended period of time.

The direct current voltage source preferably comprises a plurality of batteries connected with each other, and with the inverter unit. THe batteries are mounted on a frame member which comprises two forwardly extending laterally spaced frame sections, and a cross arm section secured to and extending between the spaced frame sections. A plurality of resilient brackets are mounted on at least some of said frame sections, and are dimensioned to receive and hold the batteries. Each forwardly extending frame section is provided with a slot at the leading edge thereof. The slots are adapted to be joined with stops which are positioned on a support member in the recorder. Additional slots or holes are provided at the trailing edge of the frame member and cooperate with locking means for mounting the frame member to the support member in the recorder. The locking means preferably comprise upward projections which enter the trailing edge slots in the cross arm section of the frame member, the projections having shoulders which overlie the upper surface of the cross arm. The projections are movably mounted on the support member so as to be movable between a first position with the shoulder in clamping engagement with the cross arm section, and a second position with the shoulders raised from the first position.

In order that the frame member and the batteries of the direct current voltage source by housed in the attendance recorder in a minimum of space, the frame member is adapted to be placed between first and second support plates in the attendance recorder. The plates are spaced and supported in a superimposed position by posts. One of the plates holds the timing clock, motor and inverter unit while the other plate supports the printing hammer mechanism which is used to imprint the necessary time information on a card as it is inserted into the recorder. The frame member is preferably U-shaped so that it conveniently slides into the space between plates without interfering with the operation of the hammer.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a portable attendance recorder as defined in the appended claims, and as described in the specification taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an attendance recorder which includes a direct current voltage source part of which is mounted on a U-shaped frame member, that frame member being shown in withdrawn position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the U-shaped frame member illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the U-shaped frame member illustrated in FIG. 2 in operative position on one plate of the support member of the attendance recorder, the upper plate thereof and the parts carried thereby being removed for purposes of clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 with the frame in its operative position.

Referring to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1, an attendance recorder is generally designated by the numeral 10. This recorder is a compact inexpensive model, the specific one illustrated being manufactured by Stromberg Products Division of Mite Corporation, located an New Haven, Connecticut. The cover has been removed from the recorder 10 to illustrate the interior section. The timing mechanism comprises a timing clock 12 which is connected by appropriate gearing to a motor 14. An ink ribbon 15 for printing extends from a supply spool 16 to a takeup spool 18, the latter being slowly rotated by an appropriate well known mechanism. The overall driving and printing mechanism for time recorders of the type illustrated may best be explained by reference to U. S. Pat. No. 2,987,929, issued to M. Juhas on June 13, 1961. The detailed explanation of a timing clock and driving mechanism similar to the type which may be employed in the recorder of FIG. 1, is clearly described therein. The specific mechanism involved for this purpose will therefore not be explained here in detail.

The employee s time card is inserted into a slot of the card holder 22, the latter being movable from side to side relative to the position of the print wheels to set the day of the week, this being a common operation in this type of attendance recorder. The printing operation itself may be automatic following insertion of the time card, such as by means of a contact at the bottom of the card slot which initiates operation of the printing solenoid. However, in a simpler form, the printing operation may be manual, such as by the depression of the handle or bar 24, which causes a hammer 26 (FIG. 3) to force the card against the print wheels (not shown) and printing ribbon 15. The bar 24 and the card holder 22 project through the top of the cover when it is in place.

A mechanism designated generally by the numeral 28 is employed to provide a control of the card position. The mechanism includes a feed pawl and ratchet sector generally designated by the numeral 30, the latter carrying a lift arm (not shown) to control the card position. A releasable lock means (also not shown) secures the lift arm to the ratchet sector at a desired angle, thereby determining the starting position on the card. A full description of this mechanism is included in a copending application, Ser. No. 773,561 filed Nov. 5, 1968 entitled Attendance Recorder with Adjustable Programming Means, now US. Pat. NO. 3,512,159 of May 12, 1970 and assigned to the assignee of the subject application.

An inverter unit 32 is mounted between the timing clock 12 and the motor 14. This unit 32 is electrically connected in series with the direct current voltage source, which here comprises a plurality of batteries 34, 36, 38 and 39. The unit 32 is also connected to the motor 14 and functions to convert the direct current voltage of the batteries to an alternating current voltage for operation of the motor 14. A typical unit which may suitably be employed for this purpose in this attendance recorder is inverter unit Model No. C8l362, manufactured by A. W. Haydon Co., Waterbury, Connecticut. The motor 14 is an alternating current synchronous motor which is designed to operate with the inverter unit 32. Such a motor is also manufactured by the A. W. Haydon Co. of Waterbury, Connecticut, and is commercially available as Model K5801. The precise operation of the timing clock 12 is ensured with the combination of such a motor and inverter unit. The aforementioned motor will provide and maintain a constant rotor speed under a variety of operating conditions including variations in temperature and fluctuations in applied voltage or the load on the motor. While this motor is one example of the type of motor which is capable of providing the desired accuracy, any number of other motors are also suitable for use in the attendance recorder.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the support structure of the recorder 10 comprises a lower plate 40, and an upper plate 42 which is mounted above the lower plate 40 and spaced therefrom by posts 44 which are partially illustrated at several positions in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the timing clock 12, the motor 14 and the inverter unit 32 are mounted on the upper plate 42. In addition, the batteries 34 are also supported on the upper plate 42 by the resilient brackets 46 and 48 which are dimensioned to releasably hold the batteries firmly in place.

The batteries 36, 38 and 39 are separately supported on a frame member which is generally designated by the numeral 50. The frame member 50 is here illustrated as being generally U-shaped and includes two forwardly extending laterally spaced frame sections 52 and 54, and a cross arm section 56. All of the batteries 36, 38 and 39 are held by resilient brackets 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 which are mounted on the sections of the U- shaped frame member. The leading edges 51 and 53 of the frame sections 52 and 54 respectively are provided with slots 68 and 70. These slots are adapted to receive stops 72 and 74 (FIG. 3) when the frame member 50 is in its fully inserted operative position between the upper plate 42 and lower plate 40. Frame member 50 is shown in FIG. 1 just prior to insertion between plates 40 and 42, and is shown in FIG. 13 in its fully inserted operative position on lower plate 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, frame member 50 is aligned in place at its leading edges 51 and 53 by the stops 72 and 74. The stops may be ordinary threaded bolts as shown and are mounted on plate 40 prior to the assembly of the recorder since they are generally inaccessible when the recorder is assembled as shown in FIG. 1. These stops are provided with shoulder parts 73 and 75 which overlie the frame sections 52 and 54 when frame 50 is in its operative position.

The frame member 50 is secured to the lower plate 40 by locking means 76 and 78 as shown in FIG. 3. The locking means 76 and 78 preferably comprise bolts which are threadedly movable upwardly and downwardly within holes in the lower plate 40. The bolts are also provided with shoulder parts 77 and 79 (FIG. 4) which overlie and engage the extended part 80 of the cross arm 56 through slots 82 and 84. When the frame is in its operative position as shown, these shoulder parts are tightly pressed against the part 80 as by turning the bolts 76 and 78 so that they are moved downwardly into close engagement with the part 80. When the frame 50 is to be removed from its operative position, the bolts are oppositely turned and move upwa'rdly to a raised position. Frame 50 may then be withdrawn. A handle 86 (best shown in FIG. 4) may be used to assist in the placement and withdrawal of the frame member 50. This handle 86 may also be adapted to support the outer cover of the recorder when it is placed over the exposed interior portion shown in FIG.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate frame member 50 without batteries and clearly show the resilient brackets which are employed to hold the batteries in place. Brackets 46 and 48 which are actually mounted on plate 42 in the final assembly of the recorder are shown in their relative position in FIG. 3 to illustrate the complete interconnection arrangement of the battery circuit. A plurality of plates 47, 59, 63 and 65 extend between the bracketsas shown and include polarity designations for proper placement of the batteries. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the batteries are connected in series when properly aligned in the brackets in accordance with the polarity designations shown. The interconnection of the batteries is effected by conducting wires 90. The output at each end of the serially connected batteries is brought to the inverter unit 32 by conducting wires 92 and 94. A convenient connection at the inverter unit may be made with the use of the terminals 96 and 98 at the end of wires 92 and 94 respectively. The inverter unit 32 is connected to the motor by conventional means (not shown), and the electrical circuit is thus complete.

A contact member is placed proximate each bracket in order that electrical contact may be conventionally made with the ends of the batteries. FIG. 2, for example, shows an extended member 1 which projects outwardly from the frame portion 54 and supports a contact 102 which engages one terminal of the battery 38 when it is placed in the bracket 66, as shown in FIG. 1. A similar contact 104 is supported in the member 106 and is positioned proximate the bracket 64. Contacts 108, Ill), 112 and 114 are carried in members 116, 118, 120 and 122 respectively to contact the batteries 39 when they are positioned in the bracket 62. As shown in FIG. 3 a similar arrangement is provided for connection with batteries 34 and 36, that is, contacts 124 and 126 are supported in members 128 and 130, while contacts 132 and 134 are supported in members 136 and 138. Wires 90 connect the various contacts as shown.

In FIG. 3 the support frame section 50 is shown to substantially enclose a hammer mechanism generally designated 140. The mechanism 140 includes lever arms 142 and 144 which are movably connected to push bar 24 through side members 146 and 148. The side members 146 and 148 are provided with slots such as 150 and 152 and are slidable over stops 154 and 156 in response to the displacement of push bar 24. As a result of the movement of the several components in the mechanism 140 the hammer 26 is caused to strike a card which is positioned in the recorder and thus effects the recording of the time indicated on timing clock 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates, by means of a side elevational view, the relative position of the several batteries and the support members holding the batteries in place. As there shown, upper plate 42 is located above and spaced from lower plate 40, and it is between these plates that the batteries 36, 38 and 39 are placed during the operation of the recorder. The batteries 34 are positioned on the plate 42 adjacent the motor 14 and inverter unit 32.

Obviously a wide variety of modifications may be made in the attendance recorder disclosed. For example, a fewer number of batteries may be employed, or other self-powered direct current voltage sources may be used. The particular structure illustrated, however, is believed to be quite advantageous in that a standard recorder unit may readily be converted to a portable self-operating device including the support structure for the direct current voltage source.

I claim:

1. A portable self-powered attendance recorder for recording time of day on a time card which is inserted into the recorder comprising a support, a timing clock mounted on said support, means on said support operatively connected to said timing clock effective to record the time from said clock on the card when the card is so inserted, motor means on said support for driving said timing clock, and a self-powered direct current voltage source on said support electrically connected to said motor means to drive the same, said motor comprising an alternating current synchronous motor, inverter means effective to convert the direct current voltage from said source to an alternating current voltage, said inverter means being mounted on said support and being electrically connected between said direct current voltage source and said synchronous motor, said direct current voltage source comprising a plurality of batteries connected with each other and with said inverter means, a frame member, means for removably mounting at least several of said batteries on said frame member, said support comprising a first plate, a second plate and means for operatively connecting said first plate to said second plate in a superposed spaced position, and means for removably mounting said fi'ame member and said batteries in the space between said first and second plates, thereby to enable said recorder to be operational at any location without the use of an external power source.

2. The attendance recorder of claim 1, in which said frame member comprises two forwardly extending laterally spaced frame sections and a cross arm section secured to and extending between said spaced frame sections, and in which said means for removably mounting said batteries comprises resilient brackets mounted on at least some of said sections, said brackets being dimensioned to receive and hold batteries therein.

3. The attendance recorder of claim 2, in which each forwardly extending frame section on said frame member is provided with a slot at the leading edge thereof, and one of said plates is provided with spaced stops projecting toward the other of said plates, said stops being positioned so as to be received by said slots when said frame member is operatively positioned between said first and second plates, thereby to align said frame member between said plates.

4. The attendance recorder of claim 3, in which said stops are provided with shoulder parts positioned to extend over the upper surface of said frame sections when said stops are received in said slots.

5. In the attendance recorder of claim 3, locking means on one of said plates engageable with said cross arm section when said frame member engages said stops.

6. The attendance recorder of claim 5, in which said locking means comprises upward projections entering said slots in said cross arm sections.

7. The attendance recorder of claim 6, in which said upward projections are provided with shoulder parts overlying the upper surface of said cross arm section, said locking means being movably mounted on said one of said plates so as to be movable between a first position with said shoulder parts in clamping engagement with said cross arm section, and a second position with said shoulder parts raised from said first position.

8. A portable self-powered attendance recorder for recording time of day on a time card which is inserted into the recorder comprising a support, a timing clock mounted on said support, means on said support operatively connected to said timing clock effective to record the time from said clock on the card when the card is so inserted, motor means on said support for driving said timing clock, and a self-powered direct current voltage source on said support electrically connected to said motor means to drive the same, said direct current voltage source comprising a plurality of batteries connected with each other, a frame member, means for removably mounting at least several of said batteries on said frame member, said support comprising a first plate, a second plate and means for operatively connecting said first plate to said second plate in a superposed spaced position, and means for removably mounting said frame member and said batteries in the space between said first and second plates, thereby to enable said recorder to be operational at any location without the use of an external power source.

'9. The attendance recorder of claim 8, in which said frame member comprises two forwardly extending laterally apaced frame sections and a cross arm section secured to and extending between said spaced frame sections, and in which said means for removably mounting said batteries comprises resilient brackets mounted on at least some of said sections, said brackets being dimensioned to receive and hold batteries therein.

10. The attendance recorder of claim 9, in which each forwardly extending frame section on said frame member is provided with a slot at the leading edge thereof, and one of said plates is provided with spaced stops projecting toward the other of said plates, said stops being positioned so as to be received by said slots when said frame member is operatively positioned between said first and second plates, thereby to align said frame member between said plates.

11. The attendance recorder of claim 10, in which said stops are provided with shoulder pans positioned to extend over the upper surface of said frame sections when said stops are received in said slots.

12. In the attendance recorder of claim 11, locking means on one of said plates engageable with said cross arm section when said frame member engages said stops.

13. The attendance recorder of claim 12, in which said locking means comprises upward projections entering said slots in said cross arm sections.

14. The attendance recorder of claim 13, in which said upward projections are provided with shoulder parts overlying the upper surface of said cross arrn section, said locking means being movably mounted on said one of said plates so as to be movable between a first position with said shoulder parts in clamping engagement with said cross arm section, and a second position with said shoulder parts raised from said first position. 

1. A portable self-powered attendance recorder for recording time of day on a time card which is inserted into the recorder comprising a support, a timing clock mounted on said support, means on said support operatively connected to said timing clock effective to record the time from said clock on the card when the card is so inserted, motor means on said support for driving said timing clock, and a self-powered direct current voltage source on said support electrically connected to said motor means to drive the same, said motor comprising an alternating current synchronous motor, inverter means effective to convert the direct current voltage from said source to an alternating current voltage, said inverter means being mounted on said support and being electrically connected between said direct current voltage source and said synchronous motor, said direct current voltage source comprising a plurality of batteries connected with each other and with said inverter means, a frame member, means for removably mounting at least several of said batteries on said frame member, said support comprising a first plate, a second plate and means for operatively connecting said first plate to said second plate in a superposed spaced position, and means for removably mounting said frame member and said batteries in the space between said first and second plates, thereby to enable said recorder to be operational at any location without the use of an external power source.
 2. The attendance recorder of claim 1, in which said frame member comprises two forwardly extending laterallY spaced frame sections and a cross arm section secured to and extending between said spaced frame sections, and in which said means for removably mounting said batteries comprises resilient brackets mounted on at least some of said sections, said brackets being dimensioned to receive and hold batteries therein.
 3. The attendance recorder of claim 2, in which each forwardly extending frame section on said frame member is provided with a slot at the leading edge thereof, and one of said plates is provided with spaced stops projecting toward the other of said plates, said stops being positioned so as to be received by said slots when said frame member is operatively positioned between said first and second plates, thereby to align said frame member between said plates.
 4. The attendance recorder of claim 3, in which said stops are provided with shoulder parts positioned to extend over the upper surface of said frame sections when said stops are received in said slots.
 5. In the attendance recorder of claim 3, locking means on one of said plates engageable with said cross arm section when said frame member engages said stops.
 6. The attendance recorder of claim 5, in which said locking means comprises upward projections entering said slots in said cross arm sections.
 7. The attendance recorder of claim 6, in which said upward projections are provided with shoulder parts overlying the upper surface of said cross arm section, said locking means being movably mounted on said one of said plates so as to be movable between a first position with said shoulder parts in clamping engagement with said cross arm section, and a second position with said shoulder parts raised from said first position.
 8. A portable self-powered attendance recorder for recording time of day on a time card which is inserted into the recorder comprising a support, a timing clock mounted on said support, means on said support operatively connected to said timing clock effective to record the time from said clock on the card when the card is so inserted, motor means on said support for driving said timing clock, and a self-powered direct current voltage source on said support electrically connected to said motor means to drive the same, said direct current voltage source comprising a plurality of batteries connected with each other, a frame member, means for removably mounting at least several of said batteries on said frame member, said support comprising a first plate, a second plate and means for operatively connecting said first plate to said second plate in a superposed spaced position, and means for removably mounting said frame member and said batteries in the space between said first and second plates, thereby to enable said recorder to be operational at any location without the use of an external power source.
 9. The attendance recorder of claim 8, in which said frame member comprises two forwardly extending laterally apaced frame sections and a cross arm section secured to and extending between said spaced frame sections, and in which said means for removably mounting said batteries comprises resilient brackets mounted on at least some of said sections, said brackets being dimensioned to receive and hold batteries therein.
 10. The attendance recorder of claim 9, in which each forwardly extending frame section on said frame member is provided with a slot at the leading edge thereof, and one of said plates is provided with spaced stops projecting toward the other of said plates, said stops being positioned so as to be received by said slots when said frame member is operatively positioned between said first and second plates, thereby to align said frame member between said plates.
 11. The attendance recorder of claim 10, in which said stops are provided with shoulder parts positioned to extend over the upper surface of said frame sections when said stops are received in said slots.
 12. In the attendance recorder of claim 11, locking means on one of said plates engageable witH said cross arm section when said frame member engages said stops.
 13. The attendance recorder of claim 12, in which said locking means comprises upward projections entering said slots in said cross arm sections.
 14. The attendance recorder of claim 13, in which said upward projections are provided with shoulder parts overlying the upper surface of said cross arm section, said locking means being movably mounted on said one of said plates so as to be movable between a first position with said shoulder parts in clamping engagement with said cross arm section, and a second position with said shoulder parts raised from said first position. 